Remember that all these parameters have been worked out over several hundred years and each parameter is very important in serving a perfect draft. Many times it is more than one problem that needs to be fixed.

Over chilling of the beer keg or beer lines. Beer should be stored at 36°F. to 40°F. Excessive low temperatures may cause hazy, cloudy beer, particularly when the beer is kept cold for a long time. Make sure the beer lines are thoroughly cleaned and then raise the temperature of the beer slightly.

Faucet is not being opened quickly and fully. Be sure to open the faucet completely and quickly. A damaged or dirty faucet and will not open for full flow due to damages such as a worn faucet coupling, washer, shaft seals, or contamination build-up. Disassemble the faucet and check seals. Scour faucet internal metal parts till they are smooth and clean. Rebuild Kits

Contaminated air source. Switch to a CO2 or other mixed gas system. If you are still using air then Always have your compressor inlet drawing fresh clean outside air. Be sure to have a hair felt filter on the inlet as well as an inline charcoal filter in the outlet line.

Defective Valves in the keg coupler. Bacteria may grow as a result of dirty or defective check valves in the coupler. Check and replace all vents and thoroughly clean the air lines. Replace if necessary.

Yeast growth or other obstruction in the faucet. Clean faucet with a good brush daily. Scour all internal parts at least once a week. Use these plugs in warm weather and all outdoor bars.

Moisture in the air system. A moisture trap must be installed in the Pre-Cooler and drained daily.

I have Flat Beer!

Flat beer is when your draft beer has a foamy head which disappears quickly or the beer lacks the usual zesty flavor of brewery fresh beer.

Causes of flat draft beer and required correction

Greasy glass. Beer glasses should not be washed with other items which have contained milk or other fatty substances. Be sure to remove all lipstick from the glass before washing. Wash glasses with Kegman BLC detergent and not soap. Rinse glasses with fresh cold water. Do not dry beer glasses by wiping - air dry on a rack. It is best to serve draft beer in a wet glass.

Faucet is not being opened quickly and fully. Be sure to open the faucet completely and quickly. Check and find the correct distance to hold the glass from the tap when drawing the beer. When done properly the beer should have a tight creamy head with an average collar (height) of ¾" to 1". Beer without a head has the appearance of being flat.

Not enough gas pressure. With correct beer pressure the tap will fill a 10 ounce glass in 4 seconds. (This is about 2 ounces per second.) Check the pressure source for obstructions in the pressure line. Check for a sluggish or defective regulator. Always apply pressure to the keg before drawing beer.

Pressure is shut off. Turn on the pressure source and set to the proper psi. We always get this call on Friday afternoons.

Pressure is low. Check for compressor power or gas bottle pressure. When a barrel is tapped pressure must be applied continuously from start to finish. Check vent valves, check valves, line obstructions.

Pre-Cooler or Beer System is too cold. The temperature should never be warmer than 40°F. On long draw systems the temperature at the faucet should always be at least two degrees colder that the pre-cooler or box.

Sluggish pressure regulator. Repair or replace the regulator. Regarding FOAMY BEER: If you have a sluggish regulator chances are that you are unable to tell or regulate the pressure on your keg. If the regulator is not properly functioning, the pressure is fluctuating which creates FOAMY BEER. The regulator is like a valve: If your regulator (valve - for the laymen) is faulty, your gas pressure is fluctuating, i.e., the presure goes up and down instead of holding steady, again, the end result is FOAMY BEER. The regulator sets the pressure. Fluctuating gas pressure will cause you to pour FOAMY BEER. A faulty regulator WILL HAVE fluctuating pressure. So there's no going around a faulty regulator if you want to pour "unfoamy" beer...BUY OUR REGULATOR! IT'S WHAT THE BEER DISTRIBUTORS BUY!

Contaminated air source. Filter all air as it leaves the compressor. Oil fumes from compressor or kitchen grease fumes pumped into the beer will make the beer flat.

Moisture in the air system. Drain moisture trap daily.

Drafts. Rapid air movement which blows or sucks air across the bar where beer is being drawn may cause the beer's head to fall quickly. Redirect the air flow.

I have Foul Beer

Off-tasting beer is often bitter and sometimes completely lacking in flavor and zest. It may have oily or foul "skunky" oder with a very unpleasant taste.

Causes of off-taste required correction

Improper cleaning. Coils, faucets, keg connectors, hoses, rods, fittings, seals and check valves should all be cleaned once a week with BLC or an other approved cleaneer.

Dirty pressure lines. Hoses and vents should be inspected and if contaminated they should be replaced.

Improper pressure hose. Replace rubber hoses with Vinyl air line Number 7080 tubing.

Unfiltered Air. Air must always be filtered. Install a charcoal filter in the air outlet and a hair felt inlet filter to the compressor.

Contaminated air. Air must be filtered and moisture traps installed and drained daily.

I have Wild (foaming) Beer!

Wild beer is a beer that is all or mostly foam when it is drawn. Before all else, remember your beer system had to be set up properly for pressure and line balance. This trouble shooting page is for systems that were set up and working properly and have gone astray.

Beer drains from the lines during draws. The faucet collar nut needs tightening to hold faucet solidly closed. Tighten so beer will not drain from the faucet and lines back into the keg.

Did you let the keg settle for 24 hours after bouncing it around in the back of your pick-up? Grab a 6 pack and let it chill.

Improper holding of the glass. Glass must be held at a proper distance from the faucet - too close and there will be no head - too far and it will be all foam.

Poor pouring habits. Faucets should be opened fully and quickly. A faucet that is not opening quickly and fully will cause beer to foam.

Yeast build up in faucet. Clean faucet daily with a good faucet brush. Scour all internal parts at least once a week and clean with BLC. Keep faucet cold to prevent yeast growth.

Kinks, dents, twists in the beer line. Correct lay of the beer line as necessary.

Sag or trap in the beer line. Since line lengths must be maintained, route the line so as it is always leading up from the keg connector to the faucet. Spirals are a good way of using up extra line inside the beer system.

Beer is too warm. The temperature at the faucet must be as cold as the keg. Beer line must be kept refrigerated. Insulation is not refrigeration. Keep lines away from hot spots like heater pipes, hot water pipes and steam pipes.

No cold storage space for beer. Keep all kegs of beer refrigerated at all times. Never allow the keg to get above 40°F.

Too much pressure. Pressure should be maintained such that the beer will fill a 10 ounce glass in 4 seconds. Check for proper regulator function.

Excess CO2. Adjust the CO2 pressure as low as possible to maintain the proper beer flow above. No more than 18 psi should be applied to the keg.

Not enough pressure. Check for defective air vents and restrictions caused by dents. kinks and contamination in the pressure line and valves. Always turn on the pressure before drawing the beer.

KegMan Products retrofit kits will fix any problem you have in a new or old kegger, tapster, or mobile bar. Our Full Foam-Buster kits contain a full commercial 2.5" or 3" Chrome Tower with Faucet, beer line and tower shank, a Lever Keg Coupler, a tap handle and a clamp for your gas line. Busterette kits contain a faucet, beer line, tower shank, a Lever Keg Coupler, tap handle and clamps for your lines.

Our's fix both Chinese knock off parts problems and old worn-out systems with American components from the faucet to the keg coupler. Real American bar equipment manufactured in the USA to a professional standard allow you to pour a perfect beer every time. Don't buy a cheap kegerator. Make your own.

Which one to choose? The choice is yours but remember to check your unit before ordering to see if your beer line is bent over so as to pinch the flow. Order the kits with either the beer elbow or the low-boy coupler to solve this problem. When retrofitting an older USA unit you may also want to order new 7080 air line since sometimes in older systems beer gets up into air lines.